MPD officer facing charges of forgery, state benefit fraud

An officer with the Macomb Police Department was arrested this week after a resident's complaint alleged he'd taken and used their Illinois Link card and wrote a check to himself from their account.

Bill Kennedy, 35, of Blandinsville was arrested on a McDonough County warrant Monday by the Illinois State Police, whom Macomb Police Chief Curt Barker said conducted an investigation after the MPD had first done so internally. Kennedy, a patrolman hired with the department in June 2005, faces charges of forgery and state benefit fraud.

"I can't recall anything like this happening in my 20 years that I've been here," Barker said. "But like I said, he's been accused of this. Right now, we're finishing up our internal investigation, and once we get everything wrapped up, the process then is to have him come in on the internal side and explain the charges and to make sure the evidence that we believe is correct is correct. Once he does that, then I will make a decision on what kind of discipline he is to receive."

The complaint against Kennedy came in about a month ago, Barker said. Once the department's own examination of the issue indicated "criminal wrongdoing," he said, the 35-year-old was placed on suspension with pay, which is still his current working status.

According to the local FOP labor agreement, a contract last ratified in May 2013, a dayshift patrolman with nine years of service like Kennedy has a salary of $53,210.

The chief said the ongoing internal investigation with Kennedy and a decision over his working status is hoped to be completed this week. Based on changes in collective bargaining — with either the most recent contract or the one prior, he couldn't immediately recall Tuesday morning — Barker said he has the authority to take action all the way up to termination.

Kennedy has done a "very good job" for the department, according to Barker, with some time as an MPD K-9 officer and "very little, if any" discipline throughout his career.

Since his intake in McDonough County Jail Monday, Barker said Kennedy has made it out on bond, which on the jail log was listed at $3,000.

Barker reiterated the department takes all complaints against police officers, which have to be filed on a sworn affidavit, are taken seriously.

"If it ends up being a situation like this where there's possible criminal wrongdoing," he said, "we will ensure that we have another agency also do an independent investigation to make sure we do everything we can to ensure the integrity of the department and prove to citizens that we are there for them."

Reach Jackie Smith via email at jsmith@McDonoughVoice.com, or follow her on Twitter @Jackie20Smith.